2 Top Officers Resign Posts at Tandberg Data

Less than a month after a lavish celebration in which Prince Harald of Norway dedicated the new manufacturing plant of Anaheim-based Tandberg Data Inc., two top officers of the company have quit, citing differences with its Norwegian parent company.

Robert Chartrand, president, and Nick Horn, vice president of sales and marketing, tendered their resignations last week, but their departures were not announced until Thursday.

They were replaced by Kjell Froyslid, a vice president of Oslo-based Tandberg Data A/S, who was named chief executive and interim president, and Art Plitt, a former director of marketing for Archive Corp., Costa Mesa, who becomes vice president of marketing and sales. Tandberg Data manufactures backup computer storage devices.

Hans Lodrup, chairman of Tandberg Data A/S, in Anaheim for a board meeting, said in a statement that he expects to appoint a new president in the next month or so. Froyslid will remain chief executive and will be dividing his time between Oslo and Anaheim.

Chartrand, who joined Tandberg Data 2 1/2 years ago as first vice president and general manager, said Thursday that his departure “had been brewing for some time.”

He said the “general conservativeness” of the Norwegian parent company made it difficult for the U.S. subsidiary to keep pace with the volatile, fast-changing personal-computer marketplace. Chartrand said he and Tandberg differed on the long-term marketing direction the company should take.

“The rapid appointments, both of which are effective immediately, indicate to the industry that Tandberg Data is committed to its U.S. manufacturing plans and product marketing strategies,” Lodrup said.